Holster



R. H. HOYT April 14, 1936.

HOLSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 28, 1.9325

R. H. HOYT HOLSTER Filed Aug. 28', y1955 April 14, 1935'.

2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 4, Patented Apr. 14, 1936 ffffoFFicE HOLSTER Richard"H." Hoyt, Los Angeles, Calif.

AApplication. August 28, 19333Serial 'No.-z 687,131

' `11` Claims. (Cl."224-"2) My invention relates to a holster forpistols, -revolversrand the likev and `.tomeans .in the form `of aAharness ory sling that Ypasses over the shoul- -1 ders andrbehindztheback for the purpose of con-V ;veniently. supporting theholster onthe-side of I the wearers bodybeneath thearm'in Vorder that the` pistol.or .revolverI contained inE .the holster mayr be readily grasped andwithdrawn for use. y .Furtherobjects of my invention are, to provideaxholsterV of. .the character referred tothat may 'be convenientlyAattached to .the wearers -belt andsupported at the side of 4the hip andalso to :construct the holster and providelsimple means for attachingthe same at a convenient point on 'the steel postofamotor'vehicleimmediately below theA steering wheel. f

VFurther objects of my invention are,fto provide a holstersupportingharness or sling that maybe conveniently :worn upon the body beneath thecoat, which harness or sling is readily adjustable sothat it maybeconveniently tted 4for wear `uponfbodies of diierent sizes, further,

' `Vto combine with the harness or slingV a holster Vsupporting memberthat occupies a, position beneath the arm of thefwearerand which permitsthe holster to be adjusted Aforwardly or rearwardc-ly to aiordconvenience and comfort 't0 the wearer, further,v to construct thevholster `so that it has sliding engagement` With the belt ofthe wearer,thereby causing the holster to lie/immediately against thewearers bodyso asto not cause bulging of the coat or outer garment and further, toconstruct the harness orv sling so as to support the Weight of thepistol or revolver from the Wearersback and permitting -freedom ofmovement ofbothof the wearers arms.

A further object of myinvention is, to combine :with the Yholstersupporting sling or harness, ycases or containers forcartridgeahandcuffs and .the like, ywhich cases are convenientlysupported at the wearers side-and the construction of the f .cases beingsuch that they may-be quickly opened `to permit the removal of thecartridges and handlcuis andv at the same time said cases being :Fig: 2:is a. rear;- elevation showing zthe.;harness rorslingion a Wearers body.

" Fig. 3A is.,.an:f1e1evational;1 viewglookingagagainst the inside.;`of,l .the holster and` showing .the-,same

lfapplieditopthepshoulder supportingV membenthat formsagpartoftheharness or sling.

Fig. 4 isa front elevational. View,y` ofthexholster. ,:Fig. 5 is ayhorizontal sectionxtakemon-:the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

i. ,Figpdis a'horizontalf sectionxtaken on the-line Fig; '7 isaside;eleyationalfvlew of thegfholster and showing the, same.suspendedfrom the wear- -ers belt.

f Fig. 8: is yani elevational view; of: 4the :combined handcufi.,carrier. and cartridge case; orf receptacle.

. :,Fig;` 9. is.1 an;V elevational. View. of; the :combined .-handcuireceptacleand: cartridgezcase.

i :Fig..101 isan.' elevational viewzof aghandcufh caseandanadjustablecsliding connectionithere- :from with theA wearers' belt.

. zFlg. 1l.i isa-modied .Eorm.oii:,ther cartridgefcase orvreceptacle-audits connection with the :holster supporting; harness. f

, ,.Fig. ...12; is azsfurthermodiedform 'of .".the

cartridge; carrier rand. :the :connection between same andthe/.iholstensupportingzharness.

f.Fig. 13; is an; elevational'v viewofxthe.: vholster showinggthesamesuspended'l from a,r -steerping;post .belowthesteering wheel of a4motorlvehicle. v1,..Referringnby; numerals .td-.the accompanying outerwall I2.

Thelowerfends of .the `Walls I Igand I.2;;ar.e-se

,curedi to;.each otherQin.. anyzsuitablemannergprefverablybymeans. of arow;or rowsfof stitching I3 :andthe-space between' the Walls IVI `and I2isopen .atthe top andin front soastopermit the Aready ,insertionandremoval. ofthe. pistol.

...,.Ahorizontallmdisposed U-shapedspring I4', of resilient metal isarranged on the interiorpf the holster and. retained therein by anoverlying section |5. of .leather,"`the edges of which Aare 'stitchedtothe walls of the. holster; .thereby providingv meansJ for yieldinglyengaging and holdingsthecpistolthat is carriedirrfthe holster. lWhen thepistol isremoved-irom the "holster by a forwardrmovernents'betweenthelforwardeedges of the sidewalls II and I2, thefreeendsl-oi-the fspring I4 spread apart to permit the passage of the pistol.

Positioned on the lower portion of the inner wall II of the holster, isa short vertically disposed strap` I6, the lower end of which is securedto wall I2 in any suitable manner, preferably by a row or rows ofstitching II, and the upper end of this strap terminates in a shorthorizontally disposed extension I8 that passes through a verticallydisposedslot I9 that is formed in wall II just below spring I4. Thisextension I8 which lies against the inner face of wall I I, isdetachably connected to said wall by an ordinary snap;

fastener, which includes a stud and socket member and I prefer to locatethe socket member 20 of this fastener on the Wall II.

This strap I6 provides means for establishing a convenient slidingconnection between the lower portion of the holster and the belt of the-wearer and the snap fastener between the extension I8 of the strap 'andthe inner kwall of the holster enables the upper portion of the strap tobe readily vunfastened to permit the disengagement of the lower portionof the holster from the belt.

'Formed through the lower portion of the inner wall I I, adjacent tostrap I6, is a vertically dis- .posed slot2I that affords Va secondaryvmeans for strap "that isv rutilized for suspending the holster Y'fromkthe steering post of a motor vehicle.

An integral portion of the inner wall. II is exltended downwardlyagainst the inner face of said inner wall as designated by 23 and thelower end of this extension is secured to the wall II by a row or rowsof stitchingr24. This construction v Vprovides a horizontally disposedloop on the inner face of the upper portion of wall II and extendingAthrough said loop is the horizontal portion of a substantiallyL-'shaped holster supporting member 25. This -member is .preferablyformed of sole leather-havinga certain degree of flexibility and theprojecting end of the horizontal arm of said member extends through avertically disposed slot `26 that is formed in the upper portion ofinner wall II of the holster.

Y Formed in wall I I adjacent to slot 26 is a shorter slot 21`which isfor the reception of a strap utilized in suspending the holster from amotor vehicle steering post.

VThe length of the horizontal arm of member 25'is such that the holstermay be adjusted for a short distance lengthwise of said horizontal arm,thus enabling the holster to be moved rearwardly or forwardly on thewearers side beneath the arm so as to conveniently position saidholster.

Secured to the upper end of the vertical leg of the holster supportingmember 25, is one end of a strap 28 that extends upwardly over the leftshoulderV of the wearer, thence inwardly to the center of the wearersback between the shoulders, at which point it is detachably and adjust-,ably Vconnected to a short vertically disposed readily adjusted.

The end of member 25 is provided with a slot 34 for the reception ofstrap 32.

The harness or sling includes a strap 35, which passes over the rightshoulder of the wearer and one end of the strap is perforated asdesignated by 36 for the reception olf a lacing 38 that also passesthrough perforations 31 in strap 28 and perforations (not shown) in theupper portion of strap 29. Thus the straps 28 and 35 are detachably andadjustably connected to the upper end of strap 29.

Strap 35 extends downward in front of the wearers right shoulder to apoint slightly below the armpit and from thence said strap extendsaround the wearers right side, thence across the right hand portion ofthe wearers back and the end' of'said strap is adjustably connected tothe lower end of strap 29 by means of a lace 39 that passes throughapertures 40 that are formed in the end of said strap 35 and throughapertures in straps 29 and 39.

By adjustably connecting the ends of strap 35 with straps 28 and 30, theharness may beV readily adjusted so as Yto rest comfortably upon thewearers body and practically all the weight of the holster and pistolcontained therein is supported from the wearers back and shoulders.

Arranged for longitudinal sliding movement upon, that portion of thestrap 35 that passes beneath the right arm of the wearer, is a smallplate or panel 4I, preferablyof leather and depending therefrom iis ashort strap 42 having a buckle 43 and the lower end of 'this strapcarries a snap hook 44.

Engagedin this snap hook is a ring 45 that is carried by the upper endof a horizontally disposed loop 46 and which latter is mounted forsliding movement upon kthe belt of the wearer.

The sling or harness constructed as described may be readily adjusted soas Yto rest conveniently upon the wearers body and the holster that issupportedrfrom member 25 may be adjusted baokwardly or forwardly beneaththe left arm ,ofthe wearer and the lower portion of the holster isconnected to the wearers belt by the strap I6 .or if desired thebeltrmay pass through Vthe slot 2I and thus the lowerV portion of theholster is retained comfortably against the wearers body without causinga bulge in the coat or wearers outer garment. Y

Member 4I is mounted to slide freely on strap wearers belt so that theseparts and the connecting strap 42 may be adjusted so as to connect theharness to that portion of the belt that passes around thewearers rightside.

The supporting member 25 and the member 4I that isconnected to thewearers belt by strap 42, prevents the lower portions of the-harnessfrom binding beneath the arms and both arms at l all timesrhave freedomof movement. l

The lower end lof the inturned loop forming portion-23 of the inner wallof the holster provides a shoulder which tends to Vmoreviirrnly retainthe pistol in proper position within the holster and by extending memberI8 at the upper rend ofloop I6 through the slot I9 in the holster l35and loop 46 is arranged to slide freely on the and detachably connectingthe extension I8 to thev wall of the holster by means of a snapfastener, acomparatively smooth outer surface is provided for the innerVwall II of the holster, thus .2:InlgFigi1.. 7.;Itfhave..illustratedothe holster dezitachedifrom;.theisling or'..harness and suspended from.;the awearerstbeltso as to occupy a positiondirectlyagainst `.the .wearers hipand where the 5,5 fzhclstenis .thuscarriedthe belty Bxpasses through 15Ution:.of Ythe rear wall of .thecase and theother :.end; being detachably secured by means ,of a snapfastener 49 to the upper portion of :the v,.:frontwallfoithe case.

, *.Suitably'securedfto the lower end of the hand- =g cuff case andvdepending therefrom, is a cartridge Y .carrying ,casev 50open at itslower end to permit -the cartridges to drop out by gravity and this.flower end is normally closed by a flap 5I, the ifree'endof which isdetachably secured to the Ylower portion of the `front walllof the caseby a snap` fastenery 52.

`V Thelower end of a strap 53 .is securedtothe lower portion of the rearwall ofA thezcartridge ycase and extends upwardly, thence througha slot54-that is yformed in the lowerxfportion of;..the

.handcuff case and the upper endof this strap is detachably connected tothe lower portion. of; .the frontwall of thev cartridge case bya snaprfas- -tener 53a; When this attachmentjis worn with .the harness orsling, the wearers beltpasses between strapy 53 and the rear wallofthecartridge `rcase.

Y Strap 53 may bereadily detached from the handcuif case in order topermit the `cartridge ,'40r case to be detached fromthe wearersiibelt.By

.unfastening snap fastener 52 andpullingapjl lfdownward' the cartridgescontained in; case50 'will drop by gravity into the hand of.. the user.

a :In the construction illustrated1in Fig.` 10 a ,45 handcuff carryingcase 55 similar to the caser41 is mounted for. sliding movementgongstrap35 and the ylower end of said case carries'.fa.ring.;.56, .throughwhichis looped a strapx51. The lower end ofythisystrap carries a snap.hook\58 'thatten- .50 .gages a ring 59 and the latter beingsecuredfrfto`the top of'. a. loop 60 that is mountedfor sliding movement: on thewearers belt. If desired astrip Y of leather or fabric may bestitchedion the? front ,fwall of the loop 6I) for the purposeoffproviding cartridge receiving and holding zloops.

`In, the construction illustrated in :Figiy :11,:a .member 6|, similarto member 4|.ismounte'd for sliding movement on strap 35 anddependingfrom said member is a strap 62 carrying at its lower end acartridge case 63, The open lower end of thecase is normally closed by aiiap 64 that is de'- tachably connected to the front wall of the .car-.tridge case by asnap fastener 65 and carried by the rear wall ofthecartridge case is a strap 65 L.that passes behind the wearers beltand the upper portion yof-said'strap' beingr brought through a yslot 61that is formed through the extended upper portion of the rear wall ofcase 63 and said strap ybeing detachably connected to said'extension bya snapv fastener 68. f' t In the construction illustrated in Fig. 12, a:membersvsimilar to member 6I is mounted for sliding movement on strap35 and depending from 'said-member is a strap '10 carrying at its lower`715 :end aizsnap hook .1 I thatengages aring or loopiJ 2 that'.projects .upwardly from the;.cartridge carry- .sing kcas'e;13..s.'I'hiscartridge case is'mounted for slidingzmovement on the wearers belt.

.The constructions illustrated in Figures 10,11 and 12 provide readilydetachable and adjustable connections between the strap:35 and thewearer's nbelt andat the same time provide means for carrying handcuffsand cartridges.

In Fig.` 13 the holster I0 is shown suspended from a motor vehiclesteering post and where the holster is thus carried straps such as 32.and 42 may be detached from the harness or sling and utilized forsuspending the holster from the steering post.

Where the holsteris thus suspended, `the straps passi throughthe-,slots`2l`and 22 and 26 and 21.

. flhus it vwillbe seenthat I have provided a pistol .holster that isrelatively simple in construction, linexpensive of manufacture and veryeffective in Hperforming the functions forwhich it is intended.

`The sling orl harness that is utilized for suspending the holsterbeneath the Vwearers arm is capable of being adjusted so as to fitconveniently and comfortably upon the Wearers body and by zdetachablyconnecting the lower portion. of the holster to the wearer's belt, saidholster is held vclose to the wearers body and it may be readilyadjusted forwardly or rearwardly as desired.

The strap? 35 in combination with strap 28 preivents the` upper. rearportion of the harness from working upwardly onto the upper portion ofthe back and neck of the wearer-and member 4I,

IWhich is mounted to slide freely on a strap 35, prevents the latterstrap from working upwardly beneath the arm of the wearer due to theconnection of said member with the wearers belt.

While I have shown and described my improved shoulder holster as beingdesigned to be carried beneath the left arm of the wearer, it will beunderstood that practically the same construction with certain partsreversed, may be utilized by a lefthanded person for supporting theholster beneath the right arm.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved combined shoulder, hipand steeringrpost holster may be made and substituted for those hereinVshown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention,the scope .of the holster provided with a vslot for the reception of theupper end of said strap, means for de- `tachablyA connecting the upperend of said strap to the inner face of the intermediate portion of :saidinner wall and a vertically disposed loop on '-therinner-face of theupper portion of said inner iwall.

2. `A pistol holster, formed from a single piece of material bent doubleto form inner and outer walls, the lower portions of which walls aresecured to each other, a vertically disposed strap havingits lowerportion secured. to the lower portion of the inner wall of the holster,an extension 7 :projecting laterally from the upper end of said strap,the inner wall of the holster having a slot l for the reception of saidextension and readily freleasable means for-securing said extension tothe inner face of said inner wall.

3. In a shoulder supporting holster, a substantially L-shaped memberstrap securedfto the.

ends of said L-shaped member for supporting the same upon a wearersbody, a pistol receiving holster, a. loop on the upper Vportieri of oneof the walls of said holster, which loop receives and slides freely uponthe horizontal leg of said L- shaped member, a strap on the lowerportion of the inner ,wall of said holster the innerV wall of theholster having a slot through which passes the upper portion of saidstrap and readily releasable means for connecting the upper end of saidstrap to the innerface of the inner wall of said holster.

4. In a shoulder supported holster, a harness comprising a short strapadapted to occupy a vertical position on the back of the wearer betweenthe shoulders a strap adapted to pass over one shoulder of the wearerone end of which strap is detachably and adjustably secured to theVupper end of said short strap, an L-shaped member connected to theother end of said strap, means for adjustably connecting the other endof said L-shaped member to the lower end of said verti- Ically disposedstrap, a pistol receiving holster arranged to slide freely lengthwiseupon the horizontal portion of said L-shap'ed member and a second strapadapted to pass around the other shoulder of the wearer, the ends ofsaid second mentioned strap being adjustably and detachably connected tothe end portions of said short Vertically disposed strap.

5. In a shoulder supported holster, a harness comprising a short strapadapted to occupy a vertical position on the back of the wearer betweenthe shoulders, a strap adapted to pass over one shoulder of the wearer,one end of which strap is detachably and adjustably secured to the upperend of said short strap, an L-shaped member connected to the other endof said strap, means for adjustably connecting the other end of said L-shaped member to the lower end of said vertically disposed strap, apistol receiving holster arranged to slide freely lengthwise upon thehorizontal portion of said L-shaped member, a second strap adapted topass around the other shoulder of the wearer, the ends of said secondmentioned strap being adjustably and detachably connected to the endportions of said short vertically disposed strap and means ardjustablymounted o-n the second mentioned strap for engaging the belt of thewearer.

6. In a shoulder supported holster, a harness comprising a short strapadapted to occupy a vertical position on the back of the wearer betweenthe shoulders, a strap adapted to pass over one of the shoulders of thewearer, one end of which strap is detachably and adjustably secured tothe upper end of said short strap, an L-shaped member secured to one endof said strap, adjustable means for detachably connecting the other.

end of said strap to the other end of said L-shaped membena pistolreceiving holster mounted to slide freely lengthwise upon the horizontalportion of said L-shaped member, readily releasable means on therlowerportion of the holster for engaging the belt of the wearer, a secondstrap adapted to pass around the other shoulder of the wearer, the endsof said second mentioned strap being detachably and adjustably connectedto the end portions of the short vertically disposed strap thatoverliesthe back of the wearer and readily releasable means mounted foradjustment on said second mentioned strap for engaging the belt of thewearer. Y .z

'7. A pistol'holster, formed from a singlepiece of material bent doubleto form inner and outer walls, the lower portions of Vwhich walls aresecured to each other, a vertically disposed strap positioned on thelower portion'of the outer face of the inner wall ofthe holster, one endof which strap is permanently secured to the holster wall, the .otherend of said stra-p being detachably secured to the holster wall, ahorizontally disposed loop on the inner face of the upper por tion oftheinner wall of the holster, said strap and loop adapted to receive strapsthat support the holster on the body of the wearer and there vbeingslots formed` through the inner wall of the holster adjacent said strapand loop for the reception of straps that support the holster on thewearers body. l

8. In a shoulder supported holster, a harness comprising a shortstrapadapted to occupy a vertical position on the back of the wearer betweenthe shoulders, a shoulder encircling strap having both ends detachablyand adjustably connected to said short vertically disposed strap, a

on the horizontal portion of said L-shaped member, a beltreceiving loopmounted on the lower portion of the outer face of the inner wall of saidholster,'one end of which loop is detachably connected to the holsterwall, a member mounted to slide upon the intermediate portion of the rstmention shoulder encircling strap, a belt receiv'- ing loop and anVadjustable strap connecting said belt receiving loop with said slidingmember.

9. In a shoulder supported holster, a harness comprising a shortvertically disposed strap adapted to occupy a position on the back ofthe wearer between the shoulders, a shoulder encircling strap having itsends detachably and adjustably connected to the end portions of saidvertically disposed strap, a longitudinally adjustable shoulderencircling straphaving its ends detachably and adjustably connected tosaid vertically disposed strap, an Lshaped member forming a part of saidlongitudinally adjustable strap and .adapted to occupy a positionbeneath one of the arms of the wearer, a pistol receiving holsteradjustably mounted on the horizontal arm of said L-shaped member, meanson said holster for engaging the belt of the wearer, a member mountedfor sliding movement on the rst mentioned shoulder encircling strap, anadjustable flexible member depending from said sliding member and a beltreceiving loop carried by the lower end of said depending adjustablemember. 10. The combination with a sling or harness, comprising a shortstrap adapted to occupy a vertical positicn upon the wearers backbetween the shoulders and a pair of shoulder encircling straps, theyends Yof which are'detachably and adjustably connected to said shortvertically disposed strap, Aof a substantially L-shaped member forming apart of one of the shoulder encircling straps of the sling or harnessand adapted to occupy a position beneath one of the arms of the wearerand` a, pistol receiving holster mounted-.to slide freely lengthwiseupon the horizontal leg of said y L-shaped member.

11'. The combination with a sling or harness, comprising a, short strapadapted to occupy ayervtical position-upon'thewearers back between the af shoulders and a pairrof shoulder encircling straps,r the ends of whichare detachably and adjustably connected to said shortyerticallysdisposed strap, 'jof ya. substantially L-shaped memberforming a

